These brilliant pictures show pigs wandering freely in the New Forest on the first day of pannage.

The domestic pigs are allowed to roam in the forest for a set period in the autumn and expected to feast on freshly fallen acorns.

(Andrew Matthews/PA)

It’s a practice that dates back to the time of William the Conqueror, who founded the New Forest in 1079.

It’s win-win for forest animals because green acorns are potentially dangerous to the ponies and cattle, which roam the forest for the majority of the year, if eaten in large quantities.

Pannage season starts today. Watch out for 🐖 🐖 🐖 in the #NewForest as they perform their important role in Forest management by eating acorns that are poisonous to ponies and cattle. #autumn#realnewforest